Insane Father Kills Son With Hatchet

On the morning of Friday 26th June 1896 a police constable who was walking his beat in Athol Street was accosted by a frantic woman who begged him to come to a house in New Hedley Street as a small child had been attacked by his father. On arrival there he found the prostrate body of two and a half year old Andrew Larkin, blood pouring out of his head.

Also in the room were Andrew's mother, three other children including a baby just a few weeks old and Mrs Rawley, the landlady of the house. She shouted out 'that is the man' as Andrew's father, also called Andrew,  went to leave through the back door. On seeing the police officer he came back and handed himself over, saying 'Oh, I was going to the police station.' 31 year old Larkin was taken in a wagon to the detective office in Dale Street where he made no reply on being charged with wilful murder.

Mrs Larkin explained that earlier in the year her husband had been admitted to the workhouse hospital suffering from acute melancholy mania. He remained there two weeks but even after he was released Mrs Larkin often heard him tell the children that they would be better off in heaven.

Larkin had been out all night prior to the murder, his whereabouts unknown. On returning at 9am he went to the room where his family slept and set about his son, of whom he was particularly attached to, with a hatchet. Mrs Larkin managed to pin him down on the bed and screamed out for help, leading to Mrs Rawley coming to her aid and allowing her to take the baby downstairs and then help the other children to safety.

Whilst awaiting his trial Larkin told doctors that some imaginary person was about to take his life hence him lashing out. He appeared before Mr Justice Cave at the Liverpool assizes on 31st July, where medical evidence proved he was not conscious of his actions at the time. He was then ordered to be detained at Her Majesty's pleasure and spent 42 years in Broadmoor, where he died of pneumonia in 1938.

 

Killer Who didn't Fight Fair

When two labourers fought each other in Vauxhall in 1896 one of them produced a fatal weapon leading to him being jailed for sixteen years for manslaughter.

On the afternoon of 6th June 1896 dock labourer Robert Devine collected his wages and was walking along Athol Street when he was met by 21 year old John Donnolly who attacked him. The two men sparred for a while before being separated by a policeman, who sent each of them on their way.

Later in the afternoon 24 year old Devine went to Sumner Street where Donnolly lived and shouted 'if you want to fight come and fight fair.' Donnolly did so and avoided the first punch that was thrown at him, but he then grabbed Devine by the waist, turned him around and stabbed him two or three times in the back and once in the thigh. Devine's widowed mother then arrived and saw her son prostrate on the ground with blood coming out of his back. Donnolly said to her 'I will do for you and your daughter and make a clean sweep of your family' and stood aside as his mother dragged Mrs Devine by the hair and threw her to the ground.

Devine was taken to the Northern Hospital where he died at 8am the following morning, one of the knife blows having penetrated the cavity of his chest. Prior to his death he had been able to give a deposition stating that Donnolly had burgled his house the previous weekend and that his actions meant that he 'was not able to help my poor mother.'

At 10pm on the evening of Devine's death Donnolly handed himself in to police on Great Howard Street and was charged with wilful murder at the detective office, to which he replied 'He came at me with a big stick.' At the inquest Devine's sister confirmed about the burglary and said that she had thrown boiling water over Donnolly to get him out of the house. She stated that Donnolly had been bullying her brother for nine months and on one occasion through spiked railings through their window.

When Donnolly was tried at the assizes on 31st July his defence counsel said that he had not been the first of the two men to use violence and a manslaughter verdict was more appropriate. The jury agreed with this without leaving the box but the severity of the attack led to a severe sentence being imposed, Justice Cave handing him a term of sixteen years penal servitude.

Baby Roasted on Fire

A woman whose newborn child was found in a fire avoided any prosecution as doctors could not be certain if it had been born alive.

Ann Burke was well known to the Liverpool Society for the Prevention of Cruelty for Children and whilst living in Bootle in 1893 was jailed for two months for neglect. Her husband, a marine fireman was disgusted at this when he returned from sea and refused to live with her again, but did agree to pay £5 every three weeks for his three children's upkeep.

By 1895 Ann was living in Leyden Street in Kirkdale (where Lethbridge Close is now) and was in a state of advanced pregnancy by the late summer. On 16th September Ann told neighbour Ellen Tyrer that she had given birth to 'the loveliest son God ever sent into the world that was stillborn' and that Nurse Williams had taken him away in a coffin. Mrs Hopkins a shopkeeper was told a similar story, that Ann had given birth on 15th September and the dead baby was taken away by Nurse Williams.

Mrs Tyrer and Mrs Hopkins were not the only neighbours to enquire about Ann as when Bridget Rooney noticed that she was no longer pregnant she asked what had become of the baby. Ann replied that Bridget should go and see Nurse Williams in Athol Street and Dr Wade in Boundary Street if she wanted an answer.

Bridget did just what Ann suggested and when both medical professionals denied any knowledge of having attended to her the police were informed. This led to two detectives going to Ann's house on 19th September and forcing the door when she refused to answer. When they gained entry Ann was in a wild state and acting strangely. Noticing something strange burning on the fire Detective Inspector Kneale got a shovel and found that it was a baby's head.

Ann was taken into custody and her three children, all aged under eight, were removed to the Islington children's centre. Two days later an inquest took place but although a two doctors could confirm that the baby was fully developed, they were unable to say if it had been born alive. This led to the jury returning an open verdict and Ann was released without charge, her mental state meaning she did not even face court for concealment of birth.

Teenager Kicked to Death at Christmas

A thirteen year old youth who was brutally set upon by four others died from his injuries on Christmas morning, leading to his attackers being jailed for between ten and twelve years.

At around 9pm on 24th December 1883 Michael Burns was walking with his friend George Fox down Commercial Road when they saw two youths fighting. One of those watching was sixteen year old Charles Vaughan, who told another youth to go to Stanley Road and get some fellow members of his 'Pad Gang' to come over.

Three members of the Pad Gang, eighteen year old William Price and Isaac Hadfield, as well as fifteen year old John McComb, went and asked what was wrong. Vaughan then replied 'This is the one who is getting at me' and head butted a lad called John Murray. When Murray ran away Vaughan then crossed the road to where Burns was standing, grabbed his coat and butted him. When Burns fell to the ground Price, Hadfield and McComb joined in the assault and kicked him in the body.

Burns managed to get up and run off, but he was caught by the others in Reading Street and again knocked to the ground and kicked him about the head. Two men passing by intervened and the four assailants ran off, while Burns had to crawl on his hands and knees to his Reading Street home. He went to bed, where he was regularly checked by his mother who didn't think his injuries were serious enough to call a doctor, but at 7am on Christmas Day she found him dead.

The four youths involved had been named by Burns and were soon taken into custody. A post mortem was carried out by Dr Costine who found that death was caused by compression of the brain due to ruptured blood vessels which were as a result of external violence. The coroner's inquest returned a verdict of manslaughter , leading to Vaughan and his associates being committed to the assizes.

On 11th February 1884 all four were found guilty of manslaughter. Prior to passing sentence Justice Butt said that the four youths were fortunate not to have been convicted of murder as the manslaughter for which they had been indicted was of 'a very bad kind.' Vaughan, who a few months earlier had been before the courts for wounding, was sentenced to twelve years penal servitude as he was the ringleader, while the other three were given ten years.

Wife Wages Thief Killed

A man who beat his wife to death after she disappeared for a week with his wages was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to fourteen years imprisonment.

50 year old bottler Richard Skelland lived with his 44 year old wife Louisa in Rathbone Street, which was situated off Great George Street. The couple were both known to drink although Louisa more so and she was often known to disappear for days on end.

On 10th August 1895 Richard gave Louisa his wages and she went away, not returning until a week later when he was paid again. Richard did not take kindly to seeing his wife return and grabbed her hair then smashed her face against the paving flags of the court before kicking her in the body. As he did this, he was shouting 'You have been away for eight days and I will make you suffer for it.'

A neighbour managed to pull Louisa away from Richard but when the couple went down the steps to their cellar, he was heard to be hitting her again. Louisa was left unconscious just inside their door where she was found in the early hours of the next morning by their son Richard as he returned home. He sought assistance from his sister Susannah but neither could wake her and a doctor was called, who ordered Louisa's removal to the dispensary.

Richard was initially arrested for wounding and after never regaining consciousness Louisa died on 29th August from wounds to the scalp which had gone to the bone. A post mortem revealed inflammation of the brain membranes, which was consistent with the scalp injuries. At the inquest a manslaughter verdict was returned and Richard was committed for trial at the assizes.

On 28th November Richard appeared before Mr Justice Collins. His defence counsel said he was a hard working man who only occasionally drank, usually as a result of being drive to it by his wife. Despite this mitigation Justice Collins said that the assault was brutal and continued, then sentenced Richard to a period of fourteen years penal servitude.

Bootle Youth Reprieved

A 17 year old Bootle youth sentenced to death after stabbing a man whilst drunk was reprieved on account of his young age.

On the evening of 19th September 1885 Joseph Flynn, a 17 year old boiler scaler had too much to drink and decided to challenge anyone of his own size to a fight. The first person he saw was 25 year old carter named Edwin Pearson who had been to a dancing class in Balliol Road.

Pearson was ready for thee challenge and both men took the coats off, but they were separated by friends. Flynn walked away but without warning he took a pocket knife out and turned back, lashing out indiscriminately before plunging it into Pearson's chest.

Pearson was taken to Bootle borough hospital where he died the following morning. Flynn was in a panic and asked a friend he came across to walk with him so as to avoid detection. At the corner of Derby Road and Church Street this youth left Flynn alone and he took a chance by returning to his home at Mann Street where he was apprehended there in the early hours.

At the inquest Flynn apologised for his actions, saying 'I was mad drunk and did not know what I was doing.' He was then committed to the next assizes, standing trial before Justice Wills on 16th November. The jury found him guilty with a strong recommendation for mercy on account of his youth, but Justice Wills said that 'never before was a more ferocious onslaught committed that led to the death of just one person.'

Saying he would forward the recommendation on, the judge then passed the death sentence in the normal form. It was however commuted to life imprisonment due to Flynn's young age.

Husband Saved by Wife's Drinking Habits

A man who was suspected of having caused the death of his wife following a struggle avoided prosecution in 1868. This was due to doctors who carried out the post mortem believing that death was more likely as a result of heart disease and the fact violence had been used was purely coincidental.

On the afternoon of 20th June that year shipwright and ex police constable Robert Rimmer returned to his Houlgrave Street home about 5pm, at around the same time his 18 year old son Joseph went out to a nearby field. Soon after Robert went after his son telling him to return home as his mother wasn't well. Joseph ran back and when he got there a neighbour Emma Egan, who had also been called by Robert, was in their cellar property. She explained that Margaret was now dead and observed that there was a fresh scratch underneath her chin.

Dr Sheldon of Boundary Street attended and found marks on the body that had been caused by violence, leading to the arrest of Robert on Athol Street as he was returning. On the Monday morning he appeared at the police court charged with causing the death of his wife and remanded pending the outcome of the coroner's inquest.

The following day Dr Sheldon gave evidence to the coroner in respect of a post mortem he had conducted. He stated that the internal organs had been made flabby by excessive drinking and as such he believed he cause of death was heart disease and not violence. Mrs Egan said that she had known Margaret for three months and never saw her sober. The jury then returned a verdict in line with the medical evidence, leading to Robert's discharge from custody.